Elevator-guide



(No Model.) L. S. GRAVES.

ELEVATOR GUIDE,

No. 394,768. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

via-610228 ww/ Nv PETERS, Pholo-Lilhcgrnphur. Wnhingmn. L1

UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LORENZO S. GRAVES, OF ROCHESTER, NEXV YORK.

ELEVATOR-GUIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,768, dated December18, 1888. Application filed August 22, 1888. fierial 110.283.,415. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, LORENZO S. GRAVES, of Rochester, inv the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Elevator- Guides; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification,and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

In the construction and operation of elevators, particularly thoseadapted to carry passengers and running at high speed, it is verydesirable that the ear be supported and guided so as to move as smoothlyand noisolessly as possible and no lateral motion be permitted, and inendeavoring to accomplish this great difficulty has been encountered inconstructing and keeping the vertical guideways perfectly true, byreason of the warping of the wood of which they are generally composed,or if of metal in so keeping the joints of the sections in line thatthere will be no jarwhen the car is passing over them.

My present invention. has for its object, therefore, to provide a guideto be applied to the car that will automatieall y adapt itself to anyinequalities in the way, and, taking up the thrust usually imparted tothe car, will guide the latter truly and smoothly at no matter whatspeed it is operated; and to this end it consists in thehereinafter-described device, the novel features being pointed outparticularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l. is a view of a portion of anelevator-(an? and its way, showing the application of my inventionthereto. li ig. 2 is a side view of one of the guides detached; Fig. 3,a top plan of the same; Fig. 4, a section on thelinewrr of Fig. 3.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote similarparts.

The guides ordinarily in use on elevators are usually applied to the topand bottom of the elevator-ear, (represented by the letter A in thedrawings,) arranged to engage with way B 011 the side timbers orsupports, O, forming the well, and guiding the car so as to preventswinging or lateral movement in either direction; and my improved guideis adapted to be applied in the same manner, the invention lying in itsimproved construction, whereby the car will be less susceptible to jarsand shocks caused by unevenness in the way.

One of these guides is shown clearly in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, and itconsists, generally, of a base or casting, 1, provided with a flatportion, 2, in which are provided elongated slots 3 3 for the passage ofthe bolts 4 4, for securing it to the timbers of the car and permittinglimited adjustment on said car, as will be understood. Formed in thecasting is an open-sided recess substantially conforming in shape to theway at the side of the well-in the present instance rectangul ar andslightly larger than said way-- and in each of the sides and the back ofthis recess are provided perforations 5 (see Fig. 4) and suitablesockets, 6 6, preferably formed in projecting portions 7, for securinglightness, and on either side of the perforations 5, as shown.

Inside the recess on the base-casting and forming the operating-surfacesof the guide are presser-plates S 8 8, each, as in Fig. 4, preferablyprovided with flanges 9, projecting over the edges of the casting, asshown, and at or near the center with a perforation, 10, countersunk onthe outside. Projecting through this perforation is a bolt, 11, having aconical head corresponding to the countersink and normally below theface of the plate, and its body portion ,which passes throughtheperforation 5 in the casting, is threaded, and upon it is secured anut, 12, and set-nut 13, as shown, while a pin, 20, passed through aperforation in the end of the bolt, prevents the accidental removal ofthe nuts. Springs 14 are inserted in the sockets in the main casting andoperate to press the plates 8 8 8 out toward the center of the recess,the motion being limited by the nuts on the bolts, constituting stopswhich can, readily be adjusted.

In use these guides are adapted to be secured to the top and bottom ofthe elevatorcar, as shown, or to the'top alone, if desired, and the nuts12 and 13 are so adjusted as to allow the springs to hold the plateslightly against the way, as in Fig. 3, and guide the car in itsmovements. Should there be any unevenness in the way, either on thefront or sides, caused by improper construction or warpage, the car inpassing such points would not be atl'ected by them, but the springswould take up the thrust in all directions, as only spring-pressedsurfaces are in contact with it.

The novel and advantageous feature of supporting the presser-plates atthe center, providing them with the countersunk perfora- IO tion, andemploying the correspondinglyshaped bolthead is that a universal motionis permitted the plates and the sides or ends permitted to move in anydirection, so that in moving over an enlarged portion of the way theends first coming in contact with it will be moved back, tilting theplate or plates on the bolt head and, permitting first one and then theother spring to be compressed; or, in the event of the ol )struct-ionoccurring at the side of one of the plates, the latter will. bepermittcal to tilt on the bolt in the same manner.

By the employment of the herein-described guide the unevenness of theway is fully compensated for by the springs, which are interposed on allsides, and, as I have practically demonstrated in a large number ofhigh-speed elevators, materially improves their operation, reduces thenoise, and lessens the jar.

It is obvious thatinstead of employing the spiral springs, as shown,leaf or any other kind could be employed; or a single Sprin g employedfor each plate, with the ends engaging the presser-plates on oppositesides of the piv- 3 5 oted point and the central portions and againstthe side of the recess in the casting, could be used with the sameeffect.

I have not deemed it necessary to show but one of the presser-plates insection, as they are all constructed and operated in the same manner.

It will be understood that if instead of the rectangular guide shown atriangular one should be employed it will be necessary to employ but twooi. the pressewplates with their faces disposed parallel to the surfaceof the way on which they operate.

Numerous mmlilications will occur to those skilled in the art, and I donot therefore desire to be confined to the details shown.

I claim as my invention 1. In a guide for elevators, a presser-platehaving a central support and springs on opposite sides of said support,substantially as described.

E2. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the casting having theopen-sided recess formed therein, of the three springpressedpresserplates located therein and forming the sides thereof, arranged toco-operate with the way, substantially as described.

3. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the casting or support,of a presser-plate, a belt for securing it to the casting, and springsbetween said plate and supportlocated on opposite sides of said bolt,substantially as described.

at. In an elevater-guide, the combination, with the support, of apresser-plate, a bolt connecting the support and plate, permitting theindependent oscillating movement of the latter, and springs between theplate and support on opposite sides of the bolt, substantially asdescribed.

5. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the support, of ancsser-plate having the countersunk recess, the bolt having the headco-operating with the said recess and eonn ectin the plate and support,and sprii'igs interposed between said plate and support, substantiallyas described.

6. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the support having thesockets therein and the perforation between them, of the presser-plateshaving the recess countersunk on the inside, the bolt passing throughthe plate and support, and the springs in the sockets, substantially asdescribed.

7. The herein-described guide for elevators, having universally -movablepresserplates adapted to 00- operate with the way and springs forpressing them in contact with it, substantially as described.

8. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the main casting havingthe open sided recess, oi? the three 1:)resser-plates mounted. therein,springs for holding them away from their support, and stops for limitingtheir motion in. this direction, substantially as described.

9. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the support, of apl'assenplate, springs for holding it away from the support, and a boltand adjustable nut tot-limiting its movement, substantially asdescribed.

10. In an elevator-guide, the combination, with the support, of one ormore presser-1.)lates having flanges projecting over the ends of thesupport, sprin for movin the plate or plates away from the support, anda stop or stops for limiting the movement of the plate, sul stant' iallyas described.

LORENZO S. GRAVES.

\Vi tinesses:

BENJAMIN Guns,

M. REYNOLDS.

IIO

